Concerning the Food of the Fly.
The Food of these Creatures in the Fly State, is very different from what it was when they were Caterpillars: Butterflies feed on all Kinds of Flowers, and on several sorts of Fruits, and I have seen them extremely fond of the Juices that issue from the Bodies of several Sorts of Trees.
MOTHS feed on the same Things, as also on the Honey-Dew that is found on the Leaves of Limes, Elms, &c. The Moths, as well as the Butterflies, are furnished with a long Proboscis, or Tongue, which lies curl’d up like a Watch-Spring, under the fore Part of the Head. The Length of this Proboscis varies according to the Species of the Fly, and is from half an Inch, to four Inches long.
The Enemies of Moths and Butterflies.
Nature has been so abundant in the Production of these Creatures, that were it not for the many Dangers they are exposed to, through every Stage of their Lives, the whole World would be too small to contain their Offspring, in four or five Years; for, upon Calculation, the Progeny of one Pair of large Butterflies, (supposing them to lay only 100 Eggs, whereas many of them lay 2 or 300, and that twice a Year) would be sufficient to cover the whole Kingdom of England in about twelve Years.
While in the Egg, they are devoured in great Numbers by Birds and other Animals.
Whilst Caterpillars, they are a Prey to small Birds of all Kinds, being almost the only Food wherewith such Birds nourish and rear their young ones.
CATERPILLARS likewise kill and devour one another; and, besides that, Numbers of them die in shifting their Skins, and in changing into the Chrysalis State. But the greatest Enemy they have in this State, is the Ichneumon Fly.
In the Aurelia State, such as have no Case are a Prey to Birds, &c. those in the Earth, to Moles, Mice, and other subterraneous Animals; and besides, great Numbers are destroyed by Frosts and Wet. In the Fly State they are a Prey to Birds, Batts, and many other Creatures.
There are four different Ways, in one or other of which all Animals of the Moth or Butterfly-Kind subsist during the Winter Season, viz.
- 1. Some in the Egg State.
- 2. Some in the Caterpillar State.
- 3. Some in the Chrysalis State.
- 4. And some in the Fly State.
It is likewise to be observed, that the several Species of them chuse different Places for their Residence
- 1. Some frequent Woods.
- 2. Some Plains and Heaths.
- 3. Some Hedges and Thickets.
- 4. Some Meads, and Mowing Grass.
- 5. And others marshy wet Grounds, &c.
Several Kinds of Caterpillars come forth of the Egg in July, August, September, and October,
remain in the Caterpillar State all the Winter, feed up in the Spring, then change into
the Chrysalis State, and produce Flies a few Weeks afterwards.
Others there are that continue in the Egg State all the Winter, are hatched in the
Spring, and feed up in about 45 Days: then change into the Chrysalis, and produce their Flies
in about 14 Days afterwards.
N. B. The Curious may be assured, that all these Observations are founded on real Facts,
and not on any Supposition or Conjecture.
And now, (as it seems exactly suitable to this Work) we shall beg Leave to close the Introduction
with a short Description of the Butterfly, taken from a Poem called The UNIVERSE,
which was written some Years ago
By Mr. Henry Baker.
SEE, to the Sun the Butterfly displays
Its glittering Wings, and wantons in his Rays:
In Life exulting, o’er the Meadows flies,
Sips from each Flow’r, and breathes the vernal Skies.
Its splendid Plumes, in grateful Order, show
The various Glories of the painted Bow.
Where Love directs, a Libertine it roves,
And courts the fair ones thro’ the verdant Groves.
How glorious now! How chang’d since Yesterday! }
When on the Ground, a crawling Worm it lay, }
Where ev’ry Foot might tread its Soul away! }
Who rais’d it thence? And bid it range the Skies?
Gave its rich Plumage, and its brilliant Dyes?
’Twas God:—Its God and thine, O Man, and He }
In this thy Fellow-Creature lets thee see, }
The wond’rous Change which is ordain’d for thee. }
Thou too shalt leave thy reptile Form behind, }
And mount the Skies, a pure ethereal Mind, }
There range among the Stars, all bright and unconfin’d. }
